0080 89 Human relationships are as thin as paper.

The sound of the car engine turning off wasn't loud, but Wei Luochen heard it keenly. She carried her hot coffee to the window, pulled back the curtains, and looked down at the man walking into the house.

Only after his figure disappeared did Wei Luochen lower the curtains, pick up his coffee and take a sip.

Ling Xingzhi entered the room, took off his coat and handed it to the nanny, then walked to the sofa and sank into it.

"Sir, why are you only just returning? Madam has been waiting for you for a long time."

Ling Xingzhi turned to look at the nanny, glanced at the time, and said gently, "It's still early, you should go back to sleep."

The nanny nodded, put away Ling Xingzhi's clothes, and then returned to her own room. Ling Xingzhi leaned back on the sofa, his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Wei Luochen stood barefoot at the corner of the stairs, propping his chin up with his hand and squinting as he observed the languid man.

Her husband arrived home just as dawn was breaking.

Ling Xingzhi seemed to be asleep. Wei Luochen's feet were freezing cold. There was no floor heating on the stairs, and even the blanket couldn't keep out the cold.

As she was holding onto the handrail to go downstairs and cover Ling Xingzhi with a blanket, Ling Xingzhi suddenly sat up, took out a pack of cigarettes from under the coffee table, and smoothly lit it, the flame shining brightly in the morning light.

Wei Luochen paused, hesitated for a moment, then squatted down on the stairs, hugging her knees and quietly watching Ling Xingzhi.

Every move the man made fascinated her. Wei Luochen looked down at her toes, her black and gold nail polish ostentatiously painted. She shouldn't be like this, Wei Luochen thought to herself. She had invited many relationship experts to publish articles in magazines, and they all said, "Love your partner three parts, love yourself seven parts."

She needs to change.

Otherwise, it will result in a lose-lose situation.

Suddenly, Ling Xingzhi's voice came from afar—

"Do you want to see a psychologist?"

Interrupting her thoughts, Wei Luochen suddenly started talking. Just as she was about to ask him how he knew she was here, she saw her own reflection in the French windows opposite—a graceful, alluring figure.

"I can fall asleep after taking sleeping pills."

Ling Xingzhi nodded, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and asked, "Didn't you say you were going to Paris and Milan to watch fashion shows? When are you leaving?"

Wei Luochen shook his head and closed his eyes.

"It's good to go out and clear your head. I'll be busy soon and won't have time to take care of you," Ling Xingzhi said, a cigarette between his fingers, turning to look at Wei Luochen. "I was planning to go out and have fun, but I couldn't. Why don't you go out and clear your head with your friends?"

Seeing that Wei Luochen did not answer, Ling Xingzhi did not press him further and silently smoked his cigarette.

Am I a big problem?

Wei Luochen suddenly asked.

Ling Xingzhi chuckled, sipping his cigarette in a sensual way, as if about to kiss, "I'm your husband, it's only right that I handle these things for you."

Why are you so wary of her? How much does she know about your affairs?

Wei Luochen's voice grew louder, and Ling Xingzhi understood what she meant: "Not too much, not too little, nothing important, but it will be very troublesome if this gets out."

"Would you be safer if she died?"

Ling Xingzhi paused, his hand still holding the cigarette. He completely understood Wei Luochen's meaning. He sat up, head bowed, elbows propped on his lap. "Luochen, these are two different things. First, she knew about me for a long time, and no news of it leaked out, either domestically or internationally. She also didn't use these things to threaten me, which means she was reliable. Second, her death was an accident. You can't use that as an excuse to absolve yourself."

"Does that excuse an accident?"

Ling Xingzhi shook his head. "Go and relax. I'll arrange your itinerary."

Wei Luochen stood up. "I love you with all my heart."

Ling Xingzhi didn't speak again. She received no response, turned around, went upstairs, and slammed the door shut.

After a long while, Ling Xingzhi stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and noticed that the sky outside the window was gradually brightening. He paused for a few seconds, then went into his study. Leaning against his desk, he picked up the landline and dialed a number. It rang twice before being answered, "Dad..."

"Hello, Secretary, this is Second Secretary Zhao Jinyang. The minister has been busy all night and just went to bed. If it's convenient... you can tell me what you need to do first."

Ling Xingzhi loosened his collar and leaned back in his chair. "Then please tell the minister, Secretary Zhao, that I have given away the Qi Baishi painting at home."

Zhao Jinyang chuckled憨厚ly, the sound particularly refreshing in the quiet morning. "The minister instructed me to ask you how Zhou Xiye's matter is being handled if you bring it up."

Ling Xingzhi raised the hand that wasn't holding the phone and pressed it to his brow. "She's a collector of paintings."

"Okay, I understand. I will pass it on to the minister."

After hanging up the phone, Ling Xingzhi got up and poured himself a glass of wine. Next to the glass was a photo of Ling Xingzhi and Wei Luochen. He paused, looking at the photo, and after a few seconds, he tilted his head back and finished the wine. He then put down the glass and casually turned the spotless photo face down on the table.

The private jet was bound for Paris, but Wei Luochen wanted to go to Panama first. Her entourage followed her instructions, doing whatever she wanted. No one objected. However, during a layover, Wei Luochen, under the guise of relaxing, drove around Panama City alone, eventually ending up on the Caribbean coast.

After parking the car, Wei Luochen boarded a luxury yacht at the agreed time and place.

On the second floor of the yacht, a man sitting on a leather sofa was ironing a cigar.

Hearing Wei Luochen's voice, he didn't look up, but simply greeted her, "These are cigars I brought from Havana. You can try them; they have a rich flavor."

Wei Luochen, wearing high heels and the latest Gucci haute couture, sat down opposite the man.

Ye Rouxin handed over the cigar in her hand, watched as Wei Luochen put the cigar in his mouth, and then slightly stood up to light it for her.

With her red lips pursed and savoring the unique flavor of the cigar, Wei Luochen let out a soft sigh.

Ye Rouxin leaned back on the sofa and chuckled, "How is it, comfortable?"

Wei Luochen looked at him coldly, "It's not as comfortable as Young Master Ye's yacht."

Ye Rouxin spread her hands, "The Ling family is so rich, why don't you ask Ling Xingzhi to buy it for you?"

Wei Luochen took another drag of his cigarette, then turned to look at the sea, where the surface shimmered with golden light.

"She's dead, can I have what I want now?"

Hearing this, Ye Rouxin grinned, spread her arms and draped them over the back of the sofa. Her collar was disheveled as she spread her arms, revealing her skin. "Your wife has some good methods, but... I wonder what Secretary Ling would think if he knew how you treated him."

Wei Luochen stretched out his legs, took off his shoes, and propped his feet up on the glass coffee table, his red nail polish exuding charm.

"That's none of your business. You got what you wanted, and I want what I want too," Wei Luochen said coldly, looking at his reflection in Ye Rouxin's sunglasses, feeling both proud and helpless.

Ye Rouxin nodded, looked away, tapped the back of the sofa with her finger, then stood up, walked to the sofa, and produced a safe from somewhere. She took out a piece of brown paper from it, and the contents of the safe were bulging.

After locking the safe, he sat down next to Wei Luochen, placed the documents on her lap, and said, "Inspect the goods?" He then took the cigarette from Wei Luochen's hand and put it in the ashtray on the coffee table.

Wei Luochen opened the package wrapped in kraft paper, glanced at it, and then looked at Ye Rouxin, "Can you guarantee that these things won't reappear?"

Ye Rouxin smiled noncommittally.

The next second, Wei Luochen stood up, picked up a lighter, and lit the brown paper in his hand.

Ye Rouxin looked at the ball of fire, the flames reflecting off his sunglasses and dancing on his glasses.

Why not keep it?

Wei Luochen picked up a cigar and took a puff.

Suddenly Ye Rouxin laughed, "You love him so much, but he doesn't have you in his heart, aren't you angry?"

Wei Luochen ignored him, stood up, put on her shoes, and swayed as she walked out. Ye Rouxin watched her retreating figure and suddenly said, "You have to use some methods to keep him by your side forever."

Wei Luochen paused, "What do you mean?"

Ye Rouxin stood up, hands on her hips, looked down as if deep in thought for two seconds, then looked up at her, "If we cooperate, I can help you trap Ling Xingzhi."

Wei Luochen chuckled, thinking it was a pipe dream.

"So what do you want?"

Ye Rouxin stroked her chin with one hand, thinking, "I don't need much, just some trivial news and gossip?"

Seeing that Wei Luochen remained silent, Ye Rouxin continued, "You need to seize the initiative and make him unable to leave you. Your so-called love and feelings are worthless to him. You need to know his weaknesses and vulnerabilities."

Wei Luochen's expression darkened slightly.

Ye Rouxin smiled confidently, "I understand. You don't know his weakness... If you don't know his weakness, then you either have to be stronger than him, or... like that dead person, make him wary of you."

Wei Luochen stared at his reflection in Ye Rouxin's glasses.

There was a lot of noise around me, including the sound of birds flapping their wings as they flew by.

Zhou Xiye walked through the crowd, got a meal in the cafeteria, and before even taking a bite, he saw the TV in the middle of the cafeteria broadcasting a report on the Two Sessions. The news anchor was dressed in a suit with an official smile, and the image behind her was of Ling Qingyun giving a report.

Zhou Xiye took a bite of food expressionlessly, then called to the cafeteria staff to turn up the TV volume.

Ling Qingyun's words reached her ears.

"Reform of biopharmaceuticals must be put on the agenda..."

While listening to the news report, Zhou Xiye didn't eat a bite of his meal. He stood up, walked to the trash can, and poured the uneaten food into it.